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MUNICH — Bayern Munich is denying two British newspapers accreditation for the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal against Manchester United after taking exception to their coverage of midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Schweinsteiger scored Bayern's equalizer in Tuesday's 1-1 first-leg draw in Manchester but was later sent off after picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Wayne Rooney.

Bayern complained in an emailed statement Thursday that the Daily Mirror and The Sun "'reported' in disrespectful, discriminatory and personally abusive manner" on Schweinsteiger. It attached pictures of a Sun story headlined "You Schwein!" and a Mirror story headlined "You Dirty Schwein."

Defending champion Bayern's second-leg match against United will be played at the Allianz Arena next Wednesday.

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Chelsea's wage bill has been overtaken by Manchester United's for the first time in more than a decade, it can be revealed.

In 2004, the Roman Abramovich-owned club were reckoned to be the biggest payers in world football as Chelsea spent heavily to challenge United's dominance.

Ten years on, and Manchester City are now easily the biggest payers in the Premier League, and Chelsea's accounts lodged with Companies House show that they are now in third spot in the 'wages league' below United as well.

Chelsea's wage bill in 2012/13 was £176million compared to £182million for Manchester United in the same season, while Manchester City's was £233million.

Chelsea's salary bill for the season also includes £4million paid during the course of the year to former manager Roberto Di Matteo - the accounts say the sum is for "termination payments and compensation in relation to changes in the first-team management structure".

The increasingly-prudent approach to wages at Chelsea reflects the club's commitment to complying with UEFA's financial fair play rules, where clubs in European competition can only record losses of 45million euros (£37.5m) during the first two-year accounting period.

Chelsea have also benefited from signing the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata before they were established superstars demanding huge salaries, which also has taken the pressure off the wage bill.

Wages at the Stamford Bridge club actually fell overall in 2011/12, and the rise last season was around three per cent compared to an 11.6% increase at United.

In terms of UEFA's spending rules, Chelsea Football Club Ltd's accounts state: "The introduction of UEFA's financial fair play regulations from the 2011/12 season provides a significant challenge.

"The football club needs to continue to balance success on the field together with the financial imperatives of this new regime."

The latest figure are in stark contrast to 10 years ago when

Deloitte's annual football finance review estimated Chelsea's wage bill of £115million in 2003/04 as "almost certainly the highest in world football".

In that year, Roman Abramovich's first full season of ownership of Chelsea, the club registered a 110 per cent increase in wages.

Quote (Pozer @ Apr 4 2014 09:54am)

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelseas-wage-bill-overtaken-by-manchester-united-for-first-time-since-2004-9236438.html

Another reason why Moyes must leave, 7th place while paying 2nd highest wages in the league.

Quote (B4al @ Apr 4 2014 10:19am)

Precisely, because paying top wages to crap/old players is Moyes` fault.

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Patrice Evra 31 £90k  1 years
Rio Ferdinand 34 £100k
Michael Carrick 31 £80k  1 years
Ashley Young 27 £118k  3 years
Antonio Valencia 27 £70k 2 years
Danny Welbeck 22 £75k  3 years
Nani  26 £90k  1 years
Javier Hernandez  24 £75k  3 years
Paul Scholes 38 £60k  Retired
Darren Fletcher  29 £80k  2 years
Anders Lindegaard 28 £40k  3 years
Ryan Giggs 39 £75k  1 years

All these should be terminated. Waste of money on crap players.

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The former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has agreed to take up a "long-term teaching position" in executive education at Harvard.

The 72-year-old, who left his post as manager at Old Trafford last summer after 26 years in charge, will lecture in the Ivy League University's new programme entitled The Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports, starting in May. It comes less than seven months after Ferguson's blueprint for managerial success was included in the October edition of Harvard Business Review.

"I'm delighted to have the opportunity and privilege to contribute to such a respected centre of excellence," Ferguson said.

"The time I have already spent at Harvard has been a stimulating experience and I look forward to developing my relationship and activities with the students, faculty and friends of the Harvard Business School community."

Ferguson conducted a series of interviews with the Harvard Business School professor Anita Elberse in 2012, outlining what he believed to be the eight key elements of his old job including "Match the method to the moment" and "Rely on the power of observation".

"We look forward to welcoming Sir Alex Ferguson on the HBS campus to share his remarkable leadership journey, and contribute to our Executive Education participants' ability to make a profound difference in the world," Elberse said.

The programme on The Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports will take place from 7-10 May. Manchester United are due to face Hull City in their last game of the season at Old Trafford on 6 May but the club are confident Ferguson's new role will not distract him from his duties as a club director and ambassador.